You make a sale. You send an invoice. Then comes the question: “Do I add GST?” You might think the answer is always 10%. It isn’t. In Australia, supplies can generally fall into different GST categories. They can be: Taxable / GST-free / Input-taxed. The difference matters. It affects whether you charge GST. It can also affect whether you can claim GST credits on your business purchases. So...

You run a business. You make sales. You pay expenses. At the end of the year, you hear about income tax. Then, during the year, you hear about GST. Both are taxes. Both can affect your business. But they work in very different ways. This is where many business owners get confused. “Am I paying tax on my sales or on my profit?” The answer depends on which tax we are talking about. Let’s make...

You have started a business. You apply for an ABN. You get the number. Then someone asks: “Are you registered for GST?” You pause. “Isn’t that what the ABN is for?” This is a very common question. An ABN and GST registration are not the same thing. They are connected. But they serve very different purposes. So let’s clear up the confusion. What Is an ABN? An Australian Business Number...

You have set up a trust. The trust has its own ABN. The business is starting to grow. Customers are coming in. Invoices are going out. Then someone asks: “Is the trust registered for GST?” This is where things can get a little confusing. A trust is not quite the same as a sole trader or a company. There is a trustee involved. And when GST registration comes into the picture, the trustee has an...

You have gone into business with someone you trust. You have a partnership agreement. You have an ABN. You have started sending invoices. The business is finally moving. Then the question comes up: “Do we need to register the partnership for GST?” It is a common question. And there is one important thing to understand from the beginning. The partnership is treated as the entity carrying on the...

Starting a company feels like a big milestone. You have registered the company. You have your ACN. You have your ABN. Clients are coming in, and the business is finally taking shape. Then someone asks: “Have you registered the company for GST?” For many new company directors, this is where the confusion begins. The good news is that the rules are quite straightforward. Let’s walk through...

You have started working for yourself. You have your ABN. You have your first few customers. You are sending invoices and watching the business slowly grow. Everything seems straightforward. Then you hear those three letters: GST. And suddenly you are wondering whether being a sole trader means you need to register. The good news is that the basic rule is fairly simple. But there are a few things...

You buy something for your business. You see GST on the invoice. So you naturally think: “Great. I can claim that GST back.” But not always. Just because GST appears on an invoice does not automatically mean you can claim it as a GST credit. There are certain situations where the GST credit is not available. And some of them are surprisingly common. So before you add that GST amount to your BAS...

You run a business. You buy a laptop. You pay for advertising. You purchase stock. You pay for software and other business expenses. And somewhere on those invoices, you see GST. Then comes the obvious question: “Can I claim this GST back?” The answer is often yes. But not every purchase gives you a GST credit. There are rules to follow. So let’s look at when your business can claim GST...

You run a business. You buy stock. You pay for software. You purchase equipment. You pay for business expenses. And on many of those purchases, you pay GST. Then you start wondering: “Can I claim that GST back?” This is where input tax credits come in. If your business is registered for GST, you may be able to claim a credit for the GST included in eligible business purchases. It sounds technical...